Training Camp Standouts

[Shroud of Orrin]

How's Shane Wright in Seattle ?

Largely forgotten it seems. Cast asunder by the Habs propaganda machine...

 

[Zirakzigil]

Seems like Honzek been having a great camp. I know he had a disappointing D+1 but hes the type of player I think will look better the higher the league he plays in. Not much junior style to his game.

He had horrible injury luck last year, only people who were calling him a bust were stat watchers. He would barely get back on the ice playing after one injury only to have something different happen to him. Him and Hunter Brew have impressed me the most at the Flames camp.

 

[57special]

No prospect is standing out for the Wild. Marat had a nice game, showing off speed, passing, offense, as well as sound two way play, but he's close to a lock to make the team... don't know if he is considered a prospect any more. Ohgren scored tonight... looks ok, but doesn't jump out at you. He might make it, but some games down in Iowa wouldn't hurt, either. All of the others(Bankier, Heidt, Haight) had moments, but nothing to make me jump up and say, "hell ya!".

Dmen prospects(Lambos, Peart, Masters) were also up and down. Hunt was a steadier, but not exactly exciting, or a rock back there.

 

[shaner8989]

Winterton had a big game last night for Seattle

 

[Craig Ludwig]

It’s true. Was fighting a largely losing battle in the habs forum trying to explain to my fellow fans how colossal of a mistake the habs had just made. Sigh. Enjoy flyers fans.

Yep, everyone loves to laud Kent Hughes, but he and the rest of the staff made a HUGE blunder drafting boring Reinbacher, likely a 3-4 Dman, instead of Michkov....They are trying to make it up by drafting Demidov, but I don't think Demidov has the potential of a Michkov. And what if we drafted Tkachuk instead of Kotkianemi....I know that was not Hughes, but those two blunders will hurt us for years to come. BUT, love the Slaf pick when everything was pointing towards Wright, that makes up for one of the two previous blunders, not to mention savvy picks with Hutson and Fowler.

 

[FliegerKorps]

You can't on one end bash the habs for picking Michkov then call Reinbacher a bust already lol.

Yep, everyone loves to laud Kent Hughes, but he and the rest of the staff made a HUGE blunder drafting boring Reinbacher, likely a 3-4 Dman, instead of Michkov....They are trying to make it up by drafting Demidov, but I don't think Demidov has the potential of a Michkov. And what if we drafted Tkachuk instead of Kotkianemi....I know that was not Hughes, but those two blunders will hurt us for years to come. BUT, love the Slaf pick when everything was pointing towards Wright, that makes up for one of the two previous blunders, not to mention savvy picks with Hutson and

 

[Kaladin]

Yep, everyone loves to laud Kent Hughes, but he and the rest of the staff made a HUGE blunder drafting boring Reinbacher, likely a 3-4 Dman, instead of Michkov....They are trying to make it up by drafting Demidov, but I don't think Demidov has the potential of a Michkov. And what if we drafted Tkachuk instead of Kotkianemi....I know that was not Hughes, but those two blunders will hurt us for years to come. BUT, love the Slaf pick when everything was pointing towards Wright, that makes up for one of the two previous blunders, not to mention savvy picks with Hutson and Fowler.

I’m overall very happy with Hughes. Especially after picking Demidov which went some way towards reassuring me they weren’t picking prospects for the wrong reasons. Clearly they just felt Reinbacher would be the better pick. I believe it was a massive mistake but ah well. You don’t hit them all out of the park.

 

[josra33]

Honzek is turning over a new leaf. That injury really hampered his season. Now that he’s healthy, he’s really showing who’s a stat watcher on this site who’s not.

 

[Zegs2sendhelp]

I’m overall very happy with Hughes. Especially after picking Demidov which went some way towards reassuring me they weren’t picking prospects for the wrong reasons. Clearly they just felt Reinbacher would be the better pick. I believe it was a massive mistake but ah well. You don’t hit them all out of the park.

I think Reinbacher will still end up an okay pick, specially in the grand scheme of things for Montreal... its not like its going to be a complete whiff of a pick.

Biggest question mark for montreal is prob goalie and centers.

Suzuki is great, but after that you have a lot of ? marks.... Im not as confident in Dach as montreal fans seem to be.... Hage could be a huge pick if he pans out.... beck should prob fill in as a depth center down the line.

 

[RangersFan1994]

For the Rangers: C/LW Adam Edstrom, RW Brennan Othmann, D Zac Jones, D Victor Mancini, G Dylan Garand

Players that looked the same the last 3 training camps: Kaapo Kakko


I won't be shocked if Othmann makes Kakko expendable this season

 

[tigervixxxen]

For Colorado, Calum Ritchie really might stick. Not that he’s done anything mindblowing but he looks like he belongs and he’s by far the most talented young player in the org. Avs really don’t do trials nor believe in them so they have a big decision to make.

The AHLers all have their moments but the org isn’t inclined to take them seriously. Ivan Ivan might not make the team but he’s probably overall been the best of the group.

I don’t count Malinski as a prospect because he’s 26 and requires waivers but he’s done enough to keep himself from being waived. Kovalenko is in similar boat though he is waivers exempt but has done all to secure a roster spot for opening night.

 

[MichaelFarrell]

For Colorado, Calum Ritchie really might stick. Not that he’s done anything mindblowing but he looks like he belongs and he’s by far the most talented young player in the org. Avs really don’t do trials nor believe in them so they have a big decision to make.

The AHLers all have their moments but the org isn’t inclined to take them seriously. Ivan Ivan might not make the team but he’s probably overall been the best of the group.

I don’t count Malinski as a prospect because he’s 26 and requires waivers but he’s done enough to keep himself from being waived. Kovalenko is in similar boat though he is waivers exempt but has done all to secure a roster spot for opening night.

That’s Ritchie’s game. He’s a great player. He doesn’t have any crazy athletic intangibles. But, he has great hockey iq and has the pro size. I really liked him his draft year. I’m glad to hear that he’s looking good in preseason.

 

[Kaners PPGs]

I won't be shocked if Othmann makes Kakko expendable this season

How has Othmann looked during preseason games? Some of the comments I've seen haven't been very positive?

 

[Rempe73]

How has Othmann looked during preseason games? Some of the comments I've seen haven't been very positive?

He wasn’t great in his first game but settled in and is playing better than I thought he would. I still don’t know if he’ll be an impact player, but we’ll see.

 

[Sticktape]

Hunter St. Martin looks very good for a 2024 6th round pick.

 

[Nevins]

I think Reinbacher will still end up an okay pick, specially in the grand scheme of things for Montreal... its not like its going to be a complete whiff of a pick.

Biggest question mark for montreal is prob goalie and centers.

Suzuki is great, but after that you have a lot of ? marks.... Im not as confident in Dach as montreal fans seem to be.... Hage could be a huge pick if he pans out.... beck should prob fill in as a depth center down the line.

I also doubt Dach but especially in terms of his fragility. Indeed, the center position needs to be improved because we only have Suzuki, Dach, maybe Newhook, Hage, Kapanen, Beck and maybe Koivu and Eriksson. In nets, I think we are solid = Monty, Primeau, Dobes, Fowler, Volokhin...After the center, it is mainly forwards that We need(left and right, big and strong) with elite talent.

 

[RangersFan1994]

How has Othmann looked during preseason games? Some of the comments I've seen haven't been very positive?

Hes been better each game. When he moves his feet, he plays better. He's a better skater than Kakko.

 

[Chainshot]

Noah Ostlund has impressed me even if Buffalo is icing an almost all AHL team in their NA pre-season games. He's on LW but his creativity and speed have shown through. He picked up three assists tonight on the heels of the OT GWG in Ottawa the other night.

 

[BKarchitect]

Noah Ostlund has impressed me even if Buffalo is icing an almost all AHL team in their NA pre-season games. He's on LW but his creativity and speed have shown through. He picked up three assists tonight on the heels of the OT GWG in Ottawa the other night.

Do we feel Ostlund is a winger, long-term - or that his tenacity and two-way play will allow him to stick eventually at center despite being a bit under-sized?

I've been trying to figure out which of the quasi-center/winger prospects in Buffalo would be most likely pegged long-term to play center - even though many of them seem likely to start as wingers when they reach the NHL.

 

[Chainshot]

Do we feel Ostlund is a winger, long-term - or that his tenacity and two-way play will allow him to stick eventually at center despite being a bit under-sized?

I've been trying to figure out which of the quasi-center/winger prospects in Buffalo would be most likely pegged long-term to play center - even though many of them seem likely to start as wingers when they reach the NHL.

It seems like they are breaking him in on wing but yeah, the game is there for play in the middle IMO. Now, are they going to see it that way? I don't know since they are allowing Helenius to play in the middle right away.

I would lean toward him winding up on the wing based on how he's being used by the team now with a smaller chance that he moves to the middle later.

 

[Forsbergaura21]

It seems like they are breaking him in on wing but yeah, the game is there for play in the middle IMO. Now, are they going to see it that way? I don't know since they are allowing Helenius to play in the middle right away.

I would lean toward him winding up on the wing based on how he's being used by the team now with a smaller chance that he moves to the middle later.

I think he may be a bit small for center. Ideally I see him on the wing but taking faceoffs when the center is thrown out or gets injured.

 

[Captain Clutch]

A few standouts from different teams.

Artem Grushnikov - Smart & physical young defender. I don't believe he makes the team but he's absolutely been one of their best defenders in camp and will play big minutes in a year or two. He's been terrific, smart and gritty.

Hunter St. Martin - Despite the 6th round overager draft pedigree, St. Martin has been very noticeable for the Panthers, combining great wheels with maximum effort on every shift. It's not hard at all imagining him being a bottom 6 forward, killing penalties and being dangerous off the rush in the NHL. He's very lanky could add 10-15 pounds of muscle and be a real problem for other teams in a couple of years.

Oliver Kapanen has been all over the ice for Montreal....smart, fast, defensively aware and sound. I don't think he's strong enough to endure the rigors of an NHL season yet but he's definitely a player and will contribute nicely to the middle 6 in Montreal.

Lane Hutson's offensive and zone entry gifts are so undeniable that I have a hard time thinking that he won't make the team and also run the Habs 1st PP unit. The problem is that he's going to have to have extremely sheltered minutes because defensively he's a turnstyle. He simply cannot yet defend well in the NHL. He's not strong enough and despite his extraordinary 4 way agility, he's not a blazing skater. Such a fun player to watch.

Tristan Luneau has been very effective as well, he will help Anaheim's sorry defense right away. Excellent skater, very smart, surprisingly tough and well positioned. I believe he deserves to make the team and will have an opportunity to move up the line-up.